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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-10 Coolidge School Council Minutesq A. W. Coolidge M e SchooE Councif MfiWes, October 10, 1995 The meeting was called to order in the Coolidge Media Center at 7:35 PM bSMa* Chomsky- Mrs. Marge Pacino was welcomed as a Community Representative member of the Council. Attending: John Doherty, John Carpenter, Larry Chomsky, Sue Redgate, Peter Mchborn, Marge Pacino, and Roy Welsch. Arriving later was Dr. Harry Harutunian, for his first meeting with the Council as Superintendent of the Reading Public Schools. The minutes of the .September 12'h meeting were approved as presented. Included with the mail distribution of the minutes were a status report of the Inclusion Profile, projected. enrollment at Parker and Coolidge by grade through the 99100 school year, a statistical analysis of Coolidge staff E.B.O. subject areas and schedule of professional development opportunities, and results of the Technology Training Needs staff survey. These materials were provided by Mr. Doherty in response to requests from the September 12'' Council meeting. Documents Distributed: • Life Skills curriculum materials developed by Mark Burton, Louise DiCarlo, and Mary Fuller. • Mass Tech Corps program description (volunteer technical instructors from software companies) • Articles on School Councils and character development from the Citizens' Educational Resource Center News (Vol.. 21, No. 1, Fall, 1995). Discussion Items Mass Tech Corps Mr. Doherty will request staff training assistance from this project. Discussion with Dr. Harutunian In addition to Dr. Harutunian's remarks, it was agreed to bring up the space and resource equity issue, and to ask Dr. Harutunian about the role of School Councils in his previous school system. The superintendent was expected to arrive about 8:30. Class Size "Average" class size at Coolidge is 24, but some high-demand classes (reading and algebra, for example) are at 31. Implications of the kinds of 'instructional options available for larger classes, especially those with a wide variety of skill levels, were explored. At current class size, Parker has 151 sq. ft. per student, and Coolidge has 134 sq. ft. per student. Square footage per student would be equal (141 sq. ft. per, student) if Parker had 640 students and Coolidge had 375 students. a s A W. Coof:dge Midge Sdwof Council mftuaes, October lo, 1995 Additional Community Rep from Addison Wesley Sue Redgate has contacted Addison Wesley's Director of Human Resources, George Goldberg. It turns out that the headquarters of the A-W education division is in California. But the New England regional headquarters is in the Jacob Way building. Mr. Goldberg is looking for a volunteer who lives in Reading and is willing to participate. We may have someone by the next meeting. Budget This year will start a new, zero-based budget process. Mr. Doherty will provide details when he receives them. Discussion focused on effectiveness of School Council input to the budget process. School Council Funds Use of the state-designated School Council budget was discussed. There is a question whether the designated dollars are "discretionary for the School Council" or funds to be used to meet School Improvement Plan objectives. We will obtain a copy of the Education Reform Act and find the language regarding these funds. School Committee to Meet at Coolidge The School Committee has scheduled to meet at Coolidge on Wednesday, November 8t'. The program will be student-based, and will include a technology presentation, use of the Media Center and computer lab, technology used in science labs, etc. This "school highlights" session will not include time for discussion or input by Council members. Dr. Harutunian's Visit Dr. Harutunian shared his "Entry Plan" by which he seeks to understand and assume leadership of the school system. The plan includes meeting with all seven PTOs and school councils, school staffs, parents, selectmen, finance committee, other volunteer organizations, clergy, and others (350 to 400 people total). The purpose is to become acquainted with the school system, and to determine how to apply his leadership and management skills based on the community's culture. The plan has four phases: 1. Get to know the district and the people 2. Exarrnine key issues in the school system's past, current issues, culture, and priorities 3. Identify tasks to be done, and rank in priority order (also areas of concern such as budget, special education, facility maintenance, and curriculum) 4. Establish how tasks in the future will be accomplished He has a series of questions for the School Committee that will establish "procedures and ground rules." He plans to consolidate the responses, present the report to the School Committee, ask for concurrence, and then summarize in a one-page report that includes goals and core values that will be the basis for his work over the next two to three years. At that point he plans to repeat the exercise, to re-examine the priorities and goals, and to re-evaluate the process and direction. - A. W. coofid Mid& school council w minutes, October 10, 1995 He posed four questions to the Council: (Answers from Council discussion follow each) 1. What educational problems stand in the way of improvement now? Facility space, material and equipment resources, class size, clear learning .objectives and effective means for evaluation, use of technology, staff development, and use of schools after-hours for benefit of the community 2. Of what in the Reading Schools system are you the most proud? Volunteer participation, parent support, outreach to parents, good special programs, staff, high degree of professionalism, openness, staff peer support 3. What do you want to preserve? Participation, community, accessibility, familiarity, and "the little thread of diversity" 4. What are your expectations of the Reading Public Schools? Have vision, promote vision, promote leadership, serve as a rallying point, set students' expectations toward excellence Finally, Dr. Harutunian discussed some of the challenges he sees that will affect the community's success in improving its schools: • How to involve (in support of the schools) the 75% of the community that does not have children in the schools Recognition of volunteers and those who contribute to fund-raisers • Stronger ties with the vocational school and with the business community • Encourage students to dream more, to take more risks in pursuit of academic and occupational goals - • Help the School' Committee to function effectively rather than to just meet. Next Council Meetings The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 7:30 PM in the Media Center. An additional November meeting will be scheduled for Tuesday, November 21 if needed. The December meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12'. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35. Respectfully submitted,, John E. Carpenter Acting Scribe